Forman News

The theme for our fourth and final week is "Plan for Yourself." As we wind up a fantastic July, students have been prompted to think about how they will use the skills they have learned when they transition into school in September. Executive function skills such as self awareness, self control, organization, and planning have been reinforced in every aspect of Forman Summer. All of the students have new tools to practice mindfulness so that they can pause and find their center, especially when life gets chaotic and they start to feel out of control.

In the classrooms, students have reflected on their time and accomplishments. Many wrote poems that articulate beautifully the journey they are on as students and as athletes, artists, friends, and community members.

In the afternoon activities this week, we introduced a class where students learned to manipulate images with Photoshop. Another group traveled to a different local fishing spot each day. Students worked in the Forman garden weeding, planting, and creating a scarecrow and a new sign. Cooking continued to be popular as well as touch football, volleyball, climbing, and LARPing.

On Tuesday evening, we gathered for a rousing trivia game. Students split into four groups and competed to win points by first correctly moving a cup to the top of their heads and then answering a question. There was a lot of laughter and healthy fun. On Thursday, every student participated in one way or another in our annual variety show. Our afternoon music class showed off tremendous talent as they performed four songs including "Heroes" by David Bowie. Other musical performances included a song from the hit musical,Hamilton, and "Lost Boy" by Ruth B. Students shared soccer skills, dog training, joke telling, an optical illusion, and an eight-minute movie that was conceived, directed, acted, and edited by Forman Summer 2016 students called Pokemon GO: The Addiction.

This afternoon, we will take time for reflecting and closure with a circle share. This ritual allows all members of the community to look back on their experiences over the past four weeks and tell the people who have become their friends and community how they are feeling as we all transition to our separate lives and family culture. Tomorrow, we will gather for a final celebration with parents and families.

I am grateful for the tremendous Forman faculty and staff and the amazing group of young people who joined us at Forman Summer 2016. I look forward to next July, and I hope to see many returning faces.